The Life & Times of a Imaginary Friend
by Corvus no Genmu
Summary: Written by my wife. What makes an imaginary friend imaginary? Better yet, what makes an imaginary friend? Is it the child who gave life to the friend? But most important of all, could an imaginary friend die?


Me: Camille! Camille? Ah, there you are! (Hugs Camille.)

Camille: (Smiles) Hello, Corvus.

Me: Aaaw... Aren't you surprised to see me?

Camille: No. I knew you'd be coming. Poupoko made sure that you would.

Me: Huh? But... why...?

Camille: First things first. Here. (Hands Me a small stack of paper.)

Me: What's this?

Camille: A story I wrote for your anniversary.

Me: ... Anniversary?

Camille: You've been on for three years now, remember?

Me: Wow... Uh, is it okay if I post this?

Camille: Of course, you may want to read it also.

Me: Sure.

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**DISCLAIMER: WE DON'T OWN FOSTER'S.**

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The Life & Times of a Imaginary Friend 

By Camille Genmu

What makes an imaginary friend imaginary? Better yet, what makes an imaginary friend? Is it the child who gave life to the friend, or something that the child did not know that they possessed? Why in the last century did imaginary friends become real, living, breathing creatures? Scientists worldwide have tried to find the answers to these puzzling questions and, for the most part, they remained unsolvable. Society accepted the friends that their children created the same way they accepted each other and expected as much from the friends. A friend was as human as its creator and could still be punished for crimes that they committed. Luckily, few, if any, friends have committed a crime let alone one serious enough for them to end up in prison.

However, despite the acceptance of imaginary friends, there was one question that was on every adult's mind.

Could an imaginary friend die?

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He did not remember exactly where he had been, nor did he really care. He liked the there that he was and still is in. He had been one of the first imaginary friends to be created by a child, though he and his creator were unaware of that fact. His creator was a young girl when she created him, her first and favorite of her imaginary friends. He could not speak in actual words but in nonsensical noises, but she and her other friends, imaginary and real, could understand him easily. Even her parents, who were quite shocked at his initial appearance in their backyard, understood him easily. It was a fun day that day, his birthday in imaginary terms.

It had started with his creator having a tea party in the large backyard of her parents' estate with only her toys for company. Like any child, she was quite happy both with her parents and the few toys that she requested to have. Again though, like any child, she wished for someone to play with that could speak and interact with her.

In otherword's, a friend.

There were few kids in her neighborhood and even less around her age group, so it was not hard to imagine that such a sweet child could be alone even in the neighborhood that would soon have hundreds of children in the oncoming years. She had been imagining a creature she had seen in one of her picture books when it had happened. When he suddenly appeared by her side. The both of them were quite shocked at his sudden appearance, none more so than him, and could only stare at each other in wonder for they were the first of anything the other had ever seen.

He was the first imaginary friend she had created and though his form was based off a mythical beast that many called monster, he was anything but that. Not with his maroon sweater-vest and brilliant emerald scales. His wings were quite small and seemed incapable of lifting him into the air, especially considering that he was near fifteen feet tall. He had a large tail and his legs were more like a goat's even though his arms were more like a dinosaur's. His horse-like head rested on a long neck with a pair of horns jutting out just behind his webbed ears. His eyes were like faint rubies and sparkled with their own light.

She was his creator, but more than that, she was his friend. His first human friend and the first he had ever seen before. She was young, barely six, and yet her pale gold hair was quite long and fell past her shoulders in a twinkling stream and was held back from her face by a small black band. Her large eyes were a matching pair of sapphires that befit the dress that she frequently wore and was wearing now. She tilted her head back enough to see his eyes and fell right of her chair with a small cry of surprise.

"_Are you alright?_" he burbled down at her, concern marking his ruby eyes. She merely continued to stare up at him.

"Who are you?" she asked, her voice small even for one as young as her. He looked confused and tilted his head slightly, his eyes closing as he organized his thoughts. He did not know how he knew as much as he did, but he knew for a fact that his name was…

"_Jabberwocky_." Reaching down with a clawed hand, Jabberwocky helped his friend to her feet gently. "_What's your name?_" Althoughh he knew already, he wanted to hear it anyway.

"I'm Alice." Jabberwocky smiled and held out his hand again.

"_Hello, Alice. I'm your imaginary friend._"

They were always together after that, even though Alice had created a few more imaginary since then, he and they were always by her side.

Until her parents decided to move.

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They all stood before the newly created foster home for imaginary friends that was run by one of, if not the first, to create an imaginary friend; Madame Foster. Reginald and March were crying their eyes out and poor little Bibbet Harte only kept his eyes on his oversized pocket watch. Cheshire had long since disappeared from view and Mock was weeping alongside Griff. They all bade their final farewells to Alice and entered Foster's home sadly, the Madame, her husband, and Madame's own friend offering their shoulders for the friends to cry on. Only Jabberwocky remained outside to stand beside Alice, now fourteen.

"I'm sorry… I'm so sorry…" Tears were falling down her face and Jabberwocky could only burble a soft sob of his own before bending down and taking a tear gently atop his claw. He stared at it sadly for a moment before snuffling to himself. Looking down, he smiled sadly at Alice.

"_Why is a raven like a writing desk?_"

"Huh?" Jabberwocky smiled a watery smile, "_I expect you to write me the answer, Alyss._" Alyss, his secret name for her that he shared with her only when they were alone.

Alice stared up at her first imaginary friend in silence before a small smile appeared on her face. "I'll write you every chance I get, I promise I'll find the answer."

Jabberwocky grinned and nodded once before looking over towards where Alice's parents patiently stood waiting for their daughter before looking back down at her. "_May we? One last time?_"

"No. Not the last time," Alice closed her eyes and hummed a steady beat as Jabberwocky raised his head up and started to sing.

"_Twas brillig, and the slithy toves _

_Did gyre and gimble in the wabe; _

_All mimsy were the borogoves, _

_And the mome raths outgrabe…_"

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As the years came and went, more friends were welcomed into Foster's and some were bid a fond goodbye as they were adopted by another child, including several of Alice's own. All but Jabberwocky. He had a deeper connection to Alice than the others did, though this did not mean that the other friends did not care for her just as much. She was their creator, their first and, as far as many of them were concerned, the best friend any of them could ask for. However, they, including Jabberwocky, desired friendship with real people, though the friendships between imaginary friends often kept this desire at bay, it was not strong enough to stave it off indefinitely.

But he would do so.

For Alyss.

He bid farewell to his fellow friends and received the odd letter or two from time which normally arrived on parr with Alice's own. Whenever such a letter would arrive, Jabberwocky would spend the entire day reading and rereading the current letter as well as all the previous ones he had received, thinking back to days of yester year when he and all the others were still together and, more or less, a family. Still though, he was happy where he was and had a few friends real and imaginary alike. Jabberwocky enjoyed drinking tea with Mr. Herriman even if the rabbit didn't provide nearly as much topics of discusion as Bibbit or March. He enjoyed all his talks with Madame Foster, who was actually quite like Alice but to a more extreme state even for Jabberwocky, but he liked her nonetheless. He especially like her for her helping him avoid Mr. Herriman whenever the large rabbit was giving a tour to a family that was looking to adopt a imaginary friend much to Mr. Herriman's chargrin. However, it wasn't until Jabberwocky had been at Foster's for near fourteen years that something would occur that would have him near bouncing on the walls for joy much like Herriman had nearly done upon the news that Madame Foster was getting married but had asked him to give her away at the ceremony.

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"_Madame Foster! Madame Foster!_" Jabberwocky all but slammed the door down as he entered Mr. Herriman's office.

"Master Jabberwocky! What is the meaning of—"

"_Sorry, Mr. H! I really need to see Madame Foster! Please!_" Before Mr. Herrimen could reproach Jabberwocky for breaking rules 294 through 321, the madame herself entered from her own office and looked up at Jabberwocky who was, by now, hopping up and down like a child high on sugar.

"What is it, Jabberwocky? Is Timmy stuck in the well?" An on-running joke between the two involved Madame Foster making many puns that referred to the newly made show "Laddie".

"_It's Alice! She's getting married and has invited me as the ring-bearer! Can I go? Can I go? Can I go? PLEASE?_"

"Provided she picks you up, I don't see why not." Madame Foster hadn't a chance to say anything else, not with Jabberwocky giving her the biggest hug she would ever receive in her life.

"_Thank you, thank you, thank you! I gotta call her! Wait, I don't know her number! Oh yeah, she wrote it down here! I gotta pack my bags! Wait, I don't have any bags!_" Like his dear friend, Bibbet, Jabberwocky ran out the door leaving only his excited burblings echoing behind him.

"Did you have to do that, Madame? Now there won't be any peace until he leaves…" Madame Foster merely smiled a knowing smile and nodded.

"I guess then that you don't want to be godfather then?"

"WHAT?"

**

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A few days later, Jabberwocky was enjoying the after-effects of the wedding and reception in which his fellow imaginary friends who had also been invited to the wedding though they did not play as much a role as he had. Every one of them had cried during the proceedings, Bibbet and Reginald more than the others, and had all shared a dance with Alice at some point or another.

They had also given fair warning to her husband as well.

However, in the next several months, Alice's letters came in fewer and fewer amounts until Jabberwocky had begun to fear that something had befallen Alice or she had begun to… forget… He berated himself constantly for thinking such a thing but he had seen far too many friends' hearts break when it finally sunk in that their creator would not be coming back for them. Jabberwocky began to slowly get more and more depressed despite the fact that Madame Foster's child had already begun to walk and talk. Even Mr. Herriman was overly ecstatic though that didn't stop him from being overly protective of the beloved woman's child.

Despite all the hustle and overall good mood of the House, Jabberwocky was still in a sad state to the point that even his eyes had lost their sparkle. It had been several weeks since he had last received a letter from Alice and he had already started to accept the fact that he was a forgotten friend. '_They say there's nothing worse than death_,' Jabberwocky thought to himself many times now. '_But there is… To be forgotten… that's far worse than death…_'

DING-DONG.

Jabberwocky glanced up from where he was slouching on the main staircase, where he had been moping for the past few hours. Slowly, he began too walk towards the door, silently wondering if it was a real family that was here to adopt a friend and maybe, just maybe, adopt him just so that he could distract himself from the pain. Little did he realize how much of a surprise he was about to receive.

"_Welcome to Madame Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends. How can I help… you…?_"

"Hello there, Jabberwocky."

"_Dodge?_" Indeed it was none other than Dodge Anders, husband of Alice Anders. Blinking twice in confusion, Jabberwocky slowly looked to Dodge's right and saw none other than his creator. " _Alice__? What—_" A sudden awareness caught Jabberwocky's now sparkling eyes as he stared in open-mouthed shock at what rested gently in Alice's arms.

A baby girl.

"_Alyss… is that…?_"

"Mmhmm. Jabberwocky, I'd like you to meet my daughter, Elisa." The small baby blinked as she heard her name and yawned cutely before looking up at the still stunned Jabberwocky. Blinking in obvious confusion, Elisa reached up towards Jabberwocky who gently bent his head down towards her level and blinked at her. Giggling, Elisa leaned forwards enough to grip Jabberwocky's equine nose in a somewhat rough manner, not that he minded any; he was still in a small state of shock at seeing the child let alone Alice.

"We're here to adopt a friend for her. Any recommendations?" asked Dodge, his joker's grin playing across his tanned face. Jabberwocky shot his head upwards and stared down at the man before looking towards Alice who grinned and nodded her head while her daughter made upset noises at Jabberwocky from leaving her grip so easily.

"_Really?_"

"Really, really Jabberwocky." Alice replied. Jabberwocky tried to blink back his tears but he could not hold them back.

"_I… I would be honored…_"

**

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For the longest time, it had felt that heaven had come to Earth for the large imaginary friend. He spent most of his time with Elisa and the few times he didn't, he remenisced with Alice. As Elisa grew up, it became apparent that she was a near equal mix of her parents with her mother's love of nonsense and her father's sense of mischief that caused many adventures to be had between herself and her friend, Jabberwocky. As she grew older, she never tired of the draconic friend nor could she really imagine being without him. He had been a part of her life since she was a baby and had been the ideal big brother many times.

Back in first grade, when she had been picked on by a bully, Jabberwocky had come with her the next day and stood beside her like a monolithic bodyguard, attracting the attentions of several kids that had imaginary friends of their own and the friends themselves. He spent all her elementary years beside her and when she went to her middle school, he came only sparcingly if only to annoy her science teachers who did not believe in imaginary friends. He had been the shoulder for her to cry on whenever she had trouble with boys during high school and had been an excellent helper with her homework, especially those concerning English literature. He had cried quite openly at her graduation ceremony and had been one of the loudest to cheer for the graduating class. However, when the time came for her to select go to college…

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"You're leaving?" exclaimed Elisa. Jabberwocky smiled sadly and nodded.

"_Yes. I'm going to back to Foster's._"

"But why, Jabberwocky?" Alice leaned against her husband as they watched their child argue not with her imaginary friend, but a member of their family. She had already talked with Jabberwocky about his decision to leave and she had accepted, albeit with great sadness equal to when they had parted once before. Dodge had also tried to argue with Jabberwocky but had come out fruitless and he too ended up feeling the same despair as his wife for he had grown to like the draconic friend like the brother he never asked for but was very glad to have.

"_You're grown-up now, Elisa. I can't be your imaginary friend anymore. You need a chance to go out into the world without me._"

"Then stay here! Mom and Dad will be glad to have you!"

"_I can't burden your parents either, Elisa. I'll still write to you…_"

"It's not the same thing, Jabberwocky!" Elisa's self-restraint broke down as she uttered a sob before turning and running to her room. Jabberwocky burbled sadly and sank down to his knees, his ears and wings drooping. Alice walked up to her first imaginary friend and patted his shoulder gently.

"She'll be okay. Just give her time."

"_I'll miss her…_"

"I know. She'll miss you too."

"_Tell her I'm sorry?_"

"I will."

"_And the riddle? Have you solved it yet?_"

"No. Not yet."

"_I can wait._"

**

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Time was something that all imaginary friends possessed for it still could not be proven whether or not a friend could die. They could withstand the worst of punishments, much like a cartoon character, but they could also get sick. Some had the power of deity and others barely enough to walk, but the one thing that all friend seemingly possessed to them was time.

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A lot had changed at Foster's when Jabberwocky returned. Many more friends had been born and just as many had been abandonned as well. Jabberwocky got along well with most of them, at least those that could be associated with. He especially liked the Frabjous Five as he secretly called them. With Wilt, there was a sense of kinship taken from the fact that the both of them were among the tallest of imaginary friends that couldn't be classified as a imaginary monster, although Wilt himself was a few feet smaller than Jabberwocky neither of them minded the difference. Wilt had, apparently, been at Foster's once before Jabberwocky and Alice's other friends had arrived and was amongst the oldest ones there though Mr. Herriman was far older than either of them, a fact they both enjoyed greatly. Often times, Jabberwocky would assist Wilt with a task given to him, especially the unfair tasks that had been asked of him due to his nice nature.

Then there was Eduardo, a imaginary friend that looked more like a monster than a friend. However, unlike most imaginary monsters, Eduardo lacked any sense of ferocity and courage both, making him in need of a friend more than anyone else though many called him a protector type friend due to his gentleness and rare occurences of courage. Admittedly, when the two first officially met, Jabberwocky had been suffering from a mild cold and had sneezed a large plume of fire that caused the purple furred friend to faint dead-away. However, once Jabberwocky had gotten over his cold, and Eduardo had been properly revived and notified of Jabberwocky's own nice nature, the two had become good friends, especially when it came to both their knowledge of their vast Beanie Baggie collection.

Of course, like every group, there was bound to be one nut and that nut was Coco, a imaginary friend that was crazy as Reginald himself, if only because of her lack of common sense. She had been one of the few friends that had been studied by scientists, a fact that Jabberwocky had only become aware of due to his be able to speak to her better than anyone else. After all, if one had to deal with Reginald and March with their unbirthdays on a daily basis, one could communicate with any mad person easily. He was quite surprised at her ability to lay plastic eggs that contained anything from a trading card to large amounts of monopoly cash. He was one of the few friends that was nice whenver he asked her if she could provide him with something that he needed, something that the eccentric friend was thankful for.

Next was Blooregard Q. Kazoo otherwise known as Bloo. He was by far the biggest pain in the neck for Mr. Herriman and was one of the House's best pranksters and finder of loopholes. He was also a friend who could not be adopted and was quite good at bowling. Jabberwocky and Bloo rarely interacted with one another but the few times that they did, it was, more or less, to teach Bloo something that he was otherwise unaware of. In fact, it was Jabberwocky who had taught Bloo had to use a paddle-stick properly so that he could 'own the zone' with his human friend and creator, Mac.

Speaking of the boy, Mac was, as far as Jabberwocky knew, the only friend that visited Foster's to play with his friend Bloo and the other three. He often acted as the concience for his imaginary friend and was the settler of many disputes amongst the friends, especially those caused by Bloo. Like the blue-blob, Jabberwocky and Mac rarely interacted with one another except for times when Jabberwocky would help Mac with his homework if only to get Bloo to stop using his tail as a jumprope.

Finally, there was Frances Foster, otherwise known as Frankie, the granddaughter of Madame Foster herself. The twenty-year old was the only real person aside from the Madame that lived in the Home and was actually the House's main caretaker as it were. She was the one in charge of all the things that Mr. Herriman was either not good at or didn't want to do. Of course, there were a lot of thing that Mr. Herriman didn't like to do and even more that he couldn't do. Because of this, Frankie was often found arguing with the large rabbit, arguments that often had Jabberwocky arriving and stopping. More often than Mr. Herriman liked, Jabberwocky helped Frankie with the chores that she was given and supported her whenever she argued with Mr. Herriman more because she was often right but also it was fun to see the various colors that Mr. Herriman's face would go through.

Although the next few decades included many varieties of mishaps and misadventures, most due to Frabjous Five, but they were good years nonetheless. Jabberwocky received more letters from Alice as well as from Alice's other friends who had good real friends of their own once again so they had no need to return to Foster's. As years went by, Jabberwocky was delighted to find out that Elisa had gotten married and had already given birth to her first child, and was already pregnant with her second. Still, Elisa had never written nor spoken to him since their last meeting, a fact that saddened Jabberwocky a great deal. He often wondered if Elisa even thought about him anymore.

Even with such sad thoughts reoccuring through his mind, Jabberwocky seemed quite happy when he had been walking towards the dining room for dinner and was just heading towards his seat when the unexpected happened. A bitter coldness had suddenly pierced its way through Jabberwocky's heart with enough force to send the draconic friend on his knees, burbling in pain. Such a thing so unseen and unnatural, most of the friends remained sitting in shock but four of the Five as well as Mr. Herriman and Frankie were at Jabberwocky's side as he collapsed onto the floor, his bright eyes dulling as he slowly slipped into unconciousness.

"_Alyss…_"

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He had awoken an hour later in his bed surrounded by many of the imaginary friends that he had befriended as well as the three human friends that included Mac's girlfriend Goo and excluded Madame Foster who was strangely absent. His ruby eyes flickering, Jabberwocky slowly sat up and placed a clawed hand against his head. Upon seeing his return to the waking world, many of the friends tried to speak all at once and were only silenced by Madame Foster's soft voice. The small woman, no taller than Mac, slowly walked into the room and stared up at Jabberwocky who was confused by what he saw in her eyes. Worry and concern were there but there was something else… despair…? And… hatred…? But why? What did he do to deserve hatred, even a tiny sliver of it, from Madame Foster?

"Jabberwocky, do you remember what happened?" she asked, her voice quiet and subdued, bringing even greater concern to the large friend.

"_I… I was walking to my seat and then…_" It hit him like a ton of bricks. " _AL__YSS! Something's wrong with Alyss!_" Jabberwocky made to stand but was halted by several arms holding him down. "_Let go of me!_"

"Jabberwocky, I just received a call from Elisa." Jabberwocky stopped his struggling and looked down at the elderly woman, slithy fear dripping into his heart.

"_What happened?_"

"Your creator, Alice, had a heart attack, a serious one. The doctors can't do anything for her but give her more time. I'm sorry Jabberwocky."

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He stood by her side the next day, having received permission to go to the hospital she was staying at. Many of the friends at the House wanted to accompany him but only Frankie was allowed to go because she was the one providing the transportation. Alice's other friends had been notified but it was doubtful that the letters would arrive in time for them to come; Jabberwocky was alone.

He had entered the room slowly, taking in the sight of Elisa and her family before gazing upon his creator and his first friend. She was almost as small as she was when they first met and her face was heavy with wrinkles. Her hair was shining white and flowed down her pillow like silver streams, but her eyes were still the same sapphire blue that he remembered. She had changed in the years while he had remained the same.

"Hello, Jabberwocky," Alice smiled slightly at him as he quietly moved to stand beside her. "Glad you could make it…"

"_Alyss… I'm sorry…_"

"There's nothing to be sorry about. I take it the others couldn't make it?"

"_They're with different families now. The letters won't arrive in…_" Jabberwocky gulped back tears and glanced towards the machine that monitored Alice's heartrate and felt his own begin to sink. The lines were barely rising up and down.

"Except for you…" Alice whispered, ignoring the last sentence entirely. "My riddler…"

"_Alyss… please… don't talk…_" The more she spoke, the faster her heartrate declined.

"I know the answer now… to your last riddle…"

"_Please… don't…_"

"A raven is like a writing desk because the notes they produce are flat… Right…?"

"_Yes, that's right…_" Her heartbeat was nearly gone. "_Alyss, I—_"

"Sing for me…? One more time…?" Jabberwocky looked down into her eyes and took a deep breath to steady himself.

"_Twas brillig, and the slithy toves _

_Did gyre and gimble in the wabe; _

_All mimsy were the borogoves, _

_And the mome raths outgrabe…_"

She was gonne before he had reached the fourth verse but he continued with the song nonetheless, his hands clutching hers gently as large tears fell down his snout and stained her still warm blanket. Once he had finished, he released his grip and stepped back only to hear a sharp gasp from Elisa. Looking over his shoulder, Jabberwocky saw that his wings were beginning to disappear. In fact, his entire form was beoming more and more transparent with every minute.

"Jabberwocky, what's happening to you?" whispered Elisa, her first words to him since they had parted all those years ago.

"_I… am dying…_" whispered Jabberwocky, a small smile etched in sadness appearing across his snout. "_I knew that I would be…_"

"Why? Why are you dying? A imaginary friend can't die! They can't!" Elisa reached up to grab his hands but her own simply went through them, causing her to gasp once again.

"_I guess… it's because Alyss is gone… or… that I haven't had a real friend for so long…_"

"I'm still your friend, Jabberwocky! I never stopped!"

"_But you did… but don't worry… I'm not sad… or mad… I'm glad… Maybe imaginary friends can go to Heaven too… it must be quite a place…_"

"Please, Jabberwocky! Don't go!" This time, Elisa's grip found purchase on Jabberwocky's hands. She had already lost both her parents, she did not want to lose her best friend too.

" _Elis__a… I can't…_" Jabberwocky was nearly gone by now. "_Don't worry, I'll still be your friend too… Remember my promise? … We'll be friends…_"

"Forever and a day…"

"_Yes…_"

"I love you, Jabberwocky…"

"_I love you too, Elisa…_"

He was gone.

So it was proven on this day that imaginary friends can indeed die if they stopped receiving the love that created them in the first place. Without love, they were without life and even the love shared from others of their kind could not match the same love found in a child for a child's love is boundless. However, with the knowledge that imaginary friends could indeed die, people began to think of another question that connected with another that was as old as time.

What happens after?

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A pair of children, both at the age of six, played happily amongst the pearly clouds, giggling to themselves as they pranced about, their small wings flapping. They ducked behind a cloud and stiffled their giggles behind their hands but they were still found by the large form of their friend. Laughing amongst themselves, the small arms of their friend lifting them high as he chortled giddily, a bright halo adorning his head and a much larger pair of wings adorning his shoulders. Laughing the three tumbled down and bounced along the fluffy clouds before the children's wings lifted them high into the air as their friend gave chase with his own wings.

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The End of One Adventure

And the Beginning of Another

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**

Me: That... that was excellent work... (Rubs eyes)

Camille: Are you crying, Corvus?

Me: No! I just got something in my eye... darn thing won't come out.

Camille: ... Corvus... there's something else that I wanted to give you.

Me: Ah, Camille, you don't have to...

Camille: However, it won't be here for about a year.

Me: A year? What could take a...

Camille: (Smiles)

Me: Camille... are you... pregnant...?

Camille: Yes.

Me: ... Holy smokes... (Faints)

Camille: Sigh... I guess I better ask Poupoko to upload all this for him then.


End file.
